Dimebag's Girlfriend Speaks On Damageplan Singer Pat Lachman

UK's Metal Hammer magazine conducted an interview with late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott's girlfriend of 20 years, Rita Haney, for its January 2008 issue, which celebrates Dimebag's life and musical accomplishments. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Metal Hammer: How are thing with Phil [Anselmo, former PANTERA singer] and Rex [Brown, former PANTERA bassist] and you?

Rita: I loved both of those boys with all my heart and soul, but I can't love them now. When Darrell forgives them, then I can. It hurts me to have to say that and to know that.

Metal Hammer: How badly did Phil pulling himself away from PANTERA affect Darrell on a personal level? And also the feud that exploded in the press between Phil and the others [see previous BLABBERMOUTH.NET stories containing quotes from Phil and the other guys — Ed.]?

Rita: I have a two-page letter where [Dimebag] wrote Philip. And it says, "I am done with him. I will never stand on stage with him and I will never give him the recognition he thinks he deserves because I know I never did anything wrong to him." And it says, "No longer will he trample through my peaceful mind." When I found that in [Dimebag's] bunk [after he was murdered], I cried.

Metal Hammer: Do you think that had Darrell not been murdered that he and Vinnie might have eventually made their peace with Phil, and PANTERA might have gotten back together?

Rita: I know Darrell had thoughts about it. He was having problems with Patrick [Lachman, DAMAGEPLAN singer], who turned out totally not to be the person we thought he was. He started trying to give ultimatums about not singing PANTERA songs and Darrell goes, "Let me tell you something: this is who I am. Whether I'm called that or not, that's my heart and soul, and yes, you will sing them. You knew it when you joined this band."

Metal Hammer: And things with Rex [Brown, former PANTERA bassist]?

Rita: Darrell talked to Rex on [Dimebag's 38th] birthday — August 20, 2004 — and he told Rex straight-up, "Dude, I'm not going to go out and have a steak with you today. Maybe I will in the future. The reason I'm talking to you right now is because we have a history. You lived on my couch, my mother was your mother, you were my brother. But you are just as much to blame for this whole thing, and quit blaming it all on Phil. You need to answer for yourself." And Rex kept saying, "Well, Phil was gonna do it anyway," and Darrell says, "I don't care — answer for yourself. Because you know what, motherfucker? You got a free ride through this PANTERA thing. So don't tell me it's all Phil's fault — you were along for the full-meal deal!" That's why there's a credit on "DimeVision" [the "DimeVision - Vol 1: That's The Fun I Have" 2006 DVD tribute to Dimebag compiled largely by Rita Haney] that says, "Rex Rocker — Full Meal Deal."

Former DAMAGEPLAN singer Patrick Lachman talking to Fuse TV about Dimebag a few days after Abbott's murder in December 2004:

rita, ikts time to either let it go or just f***ing die...we r tired of hearing you and vinnie talk all this smack about its his fault, their fault, etc...its nathan gales fault...NOONE ELSE'S FAULT.....let dime rest in peace and quit using dime as an excuse to stay in the limelight. it is very funny to me that b4 dimes death you were never in the news and now you are in the news every other day. and the only way you can stay in the news is to trash others who had nothing to do with dimes nurder...what a fukin kunt!!!!

I don't blame them for the feelings they have....I blame them for keeping it in the news though, jeeze leave it alone. I understand they don't like Phil, I understand why they don't like Phil, but I don't understand why they have to keep making it known. Everyone knows already. Yea, I am just a fan, and don't know the 'real' story behind what happened, but damn man, there's a fine line between letting your feelings known and pushing your feelings onto people. I seen DOWN twice, and both times before a song Phil would say, "this one's for Dimebag Darrell." and with the look on his face and in his eyes, you can totally tell it is not just an act to try and get the fans to believe he is sorry for the past like Vinnie says he is doing. Instead of getting in the newspapers and telling them Phil doesn't give a sh** what happened and telling the press about Phil, why don't he call Phil and ask Phil and talk to Phil about it? He can respond with feelings, some dumbass reporter can't. Phil has been expressing he wants peace, hell it has been a little over 3 years. I just don't understand why Vin and Rita can't stop talking trash on him. Yea, he made some dumbass reports about Dime in the magazine's right before he died, but hell, who knew the dude would f***in' get shot so soon? Yea, people have bad blood and want to fight people or see them beaten, but when it's over they still truely love each other, or at least have some kind of relationship to the dude. So damn, cut Phil some slack. Nothing against Vinnie, LOVE HIM TO F****NG DEATH, but let the whole situation go to rest.

agree with anonymus, it seems like every month rita or vinnie come out in the press and bash phil, and when phil is in interviews and the interviewer asks him about dime, vinnie or rita, he NEVER has a bad thing to say about them now. and now rita is bashing rex, man this fued has got to stop and they need to forgive each other.

PANTERA will always be part of us true metal fans. I wish everyone could let it rest because this sh** between Phil and Vinnie and Rita is getting real old. Things happen in life and DRUGS may have had a big part in what may have been said that caused a riff between Dime and Phil. Poeple get HIGH and say some messed up sh** dosen't mean they really ment what they said at the time. Hell most people can't remember what they did what alone remember what was said. I hope one of these days peace will be made and we can remember all the good times that we had with PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN they were both a part of History with DIMEBAG.

I agree that the over coverage is a bit much, but Karma is a b**** and Phil needs it. I knew this would happen when I heard the news December 9th the morning after the fact. Phils very mediocre attempts to correct his lies wont bring Dime back and had he not been the d***less liar and told his fans that Dime should be beaten severly Nathan the sheep Gale would have kept his cool. So f*** Phil and f*** Nathan and hope Nathan is getting his fair share in Hell and Phil soon joins him!

Well well well......Here we go again motherf***ers!!The Hunt is on for Anselmo, and Rex has just been issued with a Death Sign. Rita is just inciting towards Phil and REX and will continue to incite just like Phil Anselmo did towards Dimebag in interviews.This will Create Anselmos demise!!Its like a God Damn Novel, i read this sh** all the time and i cant wait to read the ending of this, By God its goin to be a messy one.Phil Anselmo should have Overdosed sh** his pants and drowned in his vomit when he had the chance.

This may sound a little crazy and yet sane at the same time, but here goes. Phil I am sure knows his fans are dedicated and some even insanly so. He also has the power of the media at his finger tips. Now leading up to Dimes death he for whatever reason decided he hated Dime and from what it seems by his actions and words wanted him dead. I think he told the media he wanted Dime severly beaten and knew one fan would do as he wished. After Dimes death he showed nothing so much as a word uttered and I think hung low in order not to act too soon to seem guilty of anything. Then because he realized his bread and butter were angry at him is now trying to make it seem he is a good guy that just had problems and useing drugs as the scapegoat. So I think he instead of murdering Dime him self used a fan and the media to do it for him. Makeing Dime dead and him scott free. Make sence?

Woah guys. don't think this should happen cause it will be a growing killing spree. We are in heavy metal not rap music. And I am afraid because this will grow so big I'll probably end up killed because I am related to Dimebag and Phil. We have the same forefather...I think his name was Adam. He was a weirdo, use to go around naked, eat apples and get sh** for it and he blamed the snake or his chick or the both. Anyways, that's why I don't talk about him that much, it's embarrassing.

Rita can't let things go - now she is attacking Lachman and Rex Brown. I know for a fact, that Lachman would not refuse to play pantera songs through damageplan. I think Rita needs mental help, just my opinion. She obviously needs grief counseling, and sadly most people go through a traumatic event and don't seek professional help. I think that Dime's girlfriend needs some sort of closure..but I also blame the stupid media for stirring up the sh** every chance they get. I happen to think that Lachman is good, sincere guy - who is extremely talented. I still play my damageplan cd regularly. Why don't they interview Rob Halford if they are so interested in what kind of guy Lachman is. Thanks for listening...or reading this post. I guess this article makes me upset because I am from Texas, where Pantera originated from, and it still hits hard. Fukk Rita the b**** - she needs to get professional help, and move on with her life.

One last thing, I was at the Down concert in Texas, and Phil was very sincere about feeling the pain of Dime's death. I know my opinion don't mean sh**, but it sure looked like he was really in pain emotionally. Phil gets sh** on everytime he tries to do the right thing. Phil is a fukkin' human being. He makes mistakes. Have any of you read the lyrics to the latest DOWN cd? This is deep, emotional sh**. You can tell reading the lyrics that he is so tired, and sad. He told the crowd that the song - Mourn - was dedicated to Dimebag. I believe him. Oh well, fukk it. Rita is just causing trouble, and has no reason to stay angry at everyone. She seems to be bitter, and that is just going to cause her more misery. She needs professional help.

i dont know what the big deal is..as far as lachman not wanting to sing pantera songs.. i agree with him if its true.., after a while you get sick of riding on another legacy, and want to improve and better the current situation... i think thats pretty weak of her.. she needs to grow up. it sucks all this had to happen, but philip isnt to blame, the pyscho is..hes the one with the gun.. he was mentally ill..., phils words probably didnt affect him from doing what he was ALREADY going to do... he tried to act the band 8 months prior... he was on a mission... rita is mooching and milking every cent out of dime..and DESTROYING HIS LEGACY BY TALKING sh** and not letting it go.. i want to remember pantera and dime, in a positive matter, but they arent helping that at all! Phil f***ed up in the past, but were human, we aint perfect

You people are fukked in the head. There is no way in hell Phil wanted Dime dead. 5 minutes alone and a few drinks afterwards always seems to work out most issues with people. And for the sh** about Rex- he probably wanted to do the Down thing because he knew Phil wouldn't be coming back to Pantera for awhile and without the singer that makes your style, there is no band, stoner metal is also a change of pace and allowed Rex to showcase his talents better than Damageplan would have. You people should all remember that Rex would have been a "follower" if he went to Damageplan just as much as what he did when he joined Down. And for the record Down is a much better band than Damageplan ever would have been. P.S. rita your a crooked b**** and need a serious adjustment- you've talked sh** about pretty much everyone around Dime besides his bro at this point and its getting old

just let it go!!! he will never rest in peace if rita and vinnie kept those feelings, they're only angry at everybody, life's beatiful live it up at max level enjoy every breath and quit bullsh** dime's 6 feet under, i personally enjoy my pantera, down, damageplan, superjoint music cause i know where it comes from, just let it go!!! life goes on!

DimeNola - nice words....Life is precious and it is important to cherish it. I feel that way, now,more than ever. I agree to let this topic die - and allow Dime to finally be at peace.Enjoy the music for the love of it, as well as the passion and emotion that brings through...it is a hell of lot better than that POP sh1t or Hip Hop Garbage! At least, rock and metal has a message, and is actually GOOD. :)

I don't think Rita is milking off of Dime's legacy. Her and Dime have been together since they were kids. I highly doubt 2 people who've been together so long would stay in a hollow relationship. However, I do think she, Vin, Phil and Rex need to eventually come to a resolve of their issues...

Nathan Gale killed Dime, not Phil, not Rex, not Pat Lachman. Don't get me wrong, Phil and Pat are d***s, and Rex is a b****. Though they are talented, they did pretty much ride on Dime's coattails...Look at how many know Pantera or Damageplan for Dime, versus, the other members...Phil did say the stupid sh** in that interview, but now he's eating his words since Dime was killed. Phil is a d*** for saying that sh**, but I think Dime died and the he realized how much he regrets ever wishing anything bad on Dime. So to a point, he deserves Rita's tongue lashings.

Pat is just a fag. I got the Metal Hammer issue, and I read the entire interview. Plus that video shows how much he likes to hype sh*t. First off, Pat got pissy about how Dime got more attention than him. Then after Dime died, he was saying how Dime patted him on the back basically saying sh*t was cool that before that fateful show on December 9th. That obviously sounds too much like a tale when a week before, Dime and him had problems due to his b****ing. How convenient does this sound as a story? "Me and Dime had our problems, but for some random reason, the night he got killed, before the show, he patted me on the shoulder and told me sh** was cool now." I *know* thats a fairy f***ing tale. I'm also very sure that Pat's b**** a$$ is probably living off of Dime's legacy, so he'd try to make it seem like the last moments of Dime and him were special, like it was history in the making. Kiss my f***ing a$$ Pat. Thats why you ducked behind something instead of maybe trying to take a bullet for your peoples!? If any of you here have a problem with what I've said so far, I don't care.

Rex, is just a b**** a$$ follower. Enough said...

Now, I'm not saying Rita and Vin should be p***ed at them forever. I also don't think they're gonna be feuding forever either. I think eventually after Phil, Rex, and Pat are done being b****es and taking responsibility for their flaws of character, and when Rita and Vin see that they've grown up as well as maybe think after X amount of time "Okay, they've gotten enough of their names being dragged thru mud" (Which by the way, they do deserve to be outed for being b**** asses). Then they should resolve their issues. But no, I say, let everyone get their fill of whatever they have coming to them, then forgive and never forget Dime. I also think even Dime had he been alive now, would've eventually forgiven them under the conditions I mentioned above. Maybe we should all ask ourselves and each other "WWDD (What Would Dimebag Do)?"

In either case as always, keep kicking a$$ Dime! Don't Rest in Peace, but instead Shred in Heaven!

SexBloodMetal you need to remember before Phil, Pantera was glam metal. He made them get rid of the spandex and Dimes nickname used to be Diamond before that too. He didn't ride anyones coattails. He made them profitable when all of the other glam bands took a sh** and grunge started. Know what your talking about before you open your yap.

Will this topic discussion never end? Both parties are at fault, ok, that is all I have to say. The longer you tour with friends, aka band members, tension gets high...sh1t is said that harsh and cold, people get on people's on nerves...all that sh1t. Eventually this bickering will end..but it does no good for Dime's memory or his legacy. Personally, I still think that Phil is trying his best to ask for forgiveness...we all have our own demons to conquer, Phil is struggling with his, but I respect him for being honest about his feelings, and how much he is hurting inside.